>From Helen Austin, Decatur, AL Today I am studying some possibilities that the James Gillespie (ca 1793-1849) of Blount Co, TN, Morgan and Lawrence Co, AL, could, or could not, be a son of John, son of William GILLESPIE of Blount co TN who was a son of James and Jennet of Ulster and Augusta, VA. The first thing I see is that John G. b ca 1774 did not marry Patsie HOUSTON until 7 Feb 1799. According to records our James was b between 1790 and 1793 and would not likely have been old enough for the E. TN Militia in 1813 if he was born after 1799. Could have John married Nancy Gallagher before he married Patsie? Perhaps then he could have had some children earlier. However, if John son of William was b ca 1774 he would only have been age 16 in 1790, and 19 in 1793. This does not sound quite right for a match to me. Also the Blount Co, Marriages show a marriage for a John to a Jane Kilbourn on 16 Oct 1823. I do not see a date for the marriage to Nancy G. =========== About John (gen 2) son of James and Jennet who died in 1796. However, someone sent me a message that this James was killed in 1788 at Gillespy Burnt Station. If so, that rules out that James also. ============ About children of William, gen 2, son of James and Jennet. His son Capt James b 1777 had three marriages. His last one was on 12 Aug 1823 to Martha W. (Patsy) WALLACE in Blount Co, TN. This was about the time that the settlement of the estate of Robert GILLESPIE his brother was coming to a close. You show his first marriage to Maragaret "Peggy" Houston was 21 Jan 1793. They would have had time to birth a child before the year 1793 was over. They seemed to be prolific and their first child is shown on some genealogies as Esther b 9 Jul 1795. I wonder if Capt James and Peggy could have had a child named James ? If a son James Harvey was born ca 1819. That would be a son of Capt James and Jenny Gallagher? I know it is a stretch to think he would have two James, but then Jenny might have wanted to have her own James. and his brother Robert is sometimes shown as having two Johns, John L. and John Newton ? Neither one is shown on the probate records. =========== This brings me to the matter of the children of Robert. I know that often wills or probate records do not name all the children of an individual, especially if some have died, or are much older and able to take care of themselves, or have gone away, to parts unknown. It is certain from the original records I saw (brown, crumbly pieces of 1814 and 1817 papers) that Robert died in 1817 or soon before in Morgan Co, AL. It took until 1823 for settlement of the estate because Robert was a business partner with Matthew C. Houston and the property where the store was,in Somerville, AL, had to be sold. Also the stock of the store had to be all inventoried and paid for by M.C. Houston. The many receipts and notes were to satisfy the accounts receivable and payable. Several different guardians were appointed for minor children. I also wonder if the widow Mary Ann died during the process of settlement since she was no longer the Admx. of the estate after James and John Gillespie were appointed in Somerville. Notice that the marriage to Mary Ann Gipson/Gibson King had to occur before 17 Jan 1819. Betsy, wife 2, died 13 Apr 1809. So Robert and Mary must have married after 1809 but in time to have several children. (about 7-8 yrs.) Notice that there were children, perhaps from Mary Ann that are not shown on some genealogies. The youngest are mentioned in this transcription from an original paper, dated Jan 21, 1823, in the Morgan Co Archives, Decatur, AL. "Recd of Thomas D. Crabb one of the Adm of the Estate of Robert Gillespie, the full amount of all demands due from him as adm. aforesaid, due JOSEPH GILLESPIE, SALLY GILLESPIE, NANCY GILLESPIE AND ANDREW GILLESPIE, heirs of said Robert GILLESPIE, decd. signed Isaac YEARY, guardian of Joseph, Sally, Nancy, & Andrew Gillespie. Test. Thos. McElderry." Other heirs mentioned in the probate papers of Robert Gillespie, decd are: Widow, Mary G. Gillespie and children as follows, Easter H. wife of Matthew C. Houston Wm. F. Gillespie above age 21, (b bef 1797) Martha L. , guardian James Houston appt. by Blount Co, under 21 (b aft 1797) James H. , guardian James Houston appt. by Blount Co " Robert A., guardian John Houston appt by Blount Co. " Matthew Milton, guardian John Houston appt by Blount Co. Mary E. who has for her guardian Jacob F. Fenl? apptd by Blount Co. =========== Since the children are listed in different documents, one wonders if some of the children by former wives, did not come to AL with Mary and Robert, but stayed in Blount, TN with the relatives James and John Houston and the Jacob, whose last name could be Fonl, Fenlt? hard to tell? I also wonder why the children were all split up with 4 different guardians. Now we know that the aforementioned Esther, Martha L., and Nancy stayed in Morgan Co, AL and that Martha m 28 Jan 1830 to M.C. Houston, and that Nancy married James H. Sharp 3 Sep 1829. The William F. (Finley) a Capt. stayed in Morgan also and married Sarah P. Lane, 24 Dec 1833. The JOSEPH GILLESPIE who was a minor in Jan 1823, must have been born about 1805, a child of Betsey, and have reached majority before 1826, or had permission to marry young, as The Morgan Co, Marriages show: Joseph H. GILLESPIE to Sarah Lay, 26 Oct 1826 ( A-105). I need to get a photocopy of that and see if he had to have permission. --------- all for now, Helen Austin, Decatur, AL [email protected]